Photo: Visit Frisco

The Dallas Stars canceled their practice on Friday. The team could not tell why but according to The Athletic’s Sean Shapiro and Saad Yousuf, the cancellation was COVID-19 related. The Columbus Blue Jackets also announced that they will hold out a number of players, including captain Nick Foligno and defenseman Seth Jones, in Friday’s practice for precautionary reasons and in accordance with the league’s COVID-19 protocols.

Texas is among the leaders in the United States in COVID-19 cases with over 1.91 million cases, including 54,623 in Collin County and 42,095 in Denton County, where the Stars’ practice facility in Frisco is between. Franklin County, where Columbus is in, has 89,439 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The Stars are set to open the 2020-21 season at the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Blue Jackets will start at the Nashville Predators the same day.

The team is only one of a few times to let fans in this season and will allow up to 5,000 to watch games at American Airlines Center. Their first home game will be on January 22 vs. the Predators.

These are the two times an NHL team has had to cancel practice due to COVID-19 this season.

Stars are not allowed say anything whether it’s COVID-19 related or not. However, sources confirm to @seanshapiro and I that the practice cancelation is COVID-19 related. https://t.co/C9ABKRl44V

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) January 8, 2021

By Harrison Brown